Peterborough & The Great War

Biography

Albert Edward Miner was born on 4 November 1890, in Holborn, London to parents John, a zinc plate polisher, and Lavinia (nee White) Miner.  He had five siblings.

In 1891, the family were living at Ironmonger Row, St Luke’s, Holborn, London.  By 30 March 1894, the family had hit on hard times and a Removal Order was issued from the Parish of St Matthew, Bethnal Green for Lavinia Miner and her six lawful children (her husband John being absent).  In the summer of 1894, Lavinia and her six children were admitted to the City Road Workhouse, St Luke’s and the Grays Inn Workhouse.  Documents stated that their father had deserted them.  Seven years later in 1901, they had moved to 7 Honduras Street, St Luke’s, Holborn, London.

In 1911, Albert enlisted into the 1st Lancashire Fusiliers and was posted overseas to serve in Multan, Punjab, India.

Albert’s service records have not survived, but from the visitors’ book we know he was Company Quartermaster Sergeant (CQMS) with the 1st Lancashire Fusiliers.  The regiment was attached to the 86th Brigade, 29th Division.  His medal record card indicates that he served in Gallipoli (Dardanelles) from 24 May 1915, and was awarded the 1915 Star, British War and Allied Victory Medals, and a Long Service and Good Conduct Medal.

Albert married Eleanor Parry in West Derby, Lancashire in 1916 and they had one son, Donald Albert, born in Farnham, Surrey in 1920.

By 1939, Albert and his wife had moved to Kearsley in Lancashire where he was a general labourer at the paper mill.

Albert died in Chelsea in September 1974, aged 83.

Please get in touch if you can tell us more about Albert and his family.